oldzy

Anyone know the stock front sway bar size on a 1972 Cutlass Supreme? It has a 350 4bbl w/ AC.

Would the GM rear sway bar (part no. 394926) work with it? After researching, it seems they have to 'match' each other.

If the front bar is fine to re-use, what poly bushings/endlinks would be best to use? I want to try them over rubber for the front sway bar setup.

Thx.

henryk8398

My 1972 LeMans had a 350 2bbl and came stock with a front sway bar of 7/8" diamater and no rear sway bar. I'm guessing yours is the same. To add the rear bar, you can either purchase boxed rear control arms or convert them to boxed. That requires welding. You will have to drill the holes for the rear bar if your control arms don't have them already. Once you deal with the rear control arms, that GM part number will work fine, but I've heard that your front bar should be larger than the rear. Anyway, if you want to add a rear bar, you should add a bigger one on the front. That will require new bushings and possibly endlinks. It's WELL WORTH IT!

oldzy

Thanks. I am starting to have buyers remorse buying all this Hotchkis stuff, Upper/Lower Control Arms, frame/mount braces, front/rear sway bar kit (1 3/8" front and 1" rear).

I am thinking the FE2 type setup (with the stock boxed rear lower arms and rear sway bar) will be more than enough. I am definitely going to be dragging (every Friday in the summer most likely), but more cruising though.

henryk8398

If you can return the Hotchkis stuff, you could definitely recoup some money. It's going to cost about $30-$50 to convert your rear control arms to boxed.

If you can, keep the sway bars and just bolt them to the stock suspension, making the necessary upgrades to accommodate the larger bars. I don't have an experience with a full Hotchkis upgrade, but I imagine it's an improvement over stock control arms with large sway bars. Maybe someone else can chime in on that.

Lady72nRob71

The 72 supreme convertible uses a 1" front bar (or 0.995" or something like that). It seemed like that was the largest available.
The rear bar would have been a 7/8" dia, if the 442 appearance and handling package was added. The HD suspension option included these 2 bars also.
Either way, when the rear bar is added, the boxed lower control arms must be used.

All my books are at home, so I cannot verify the hardtop uses the same bars.

dhoff

The Hotchkiss bars and arms made a 100% improvement on a 71 chevelle I have so I got them for the 71 cutlass I'm doing now. You will not be as happy with the stock handling, it is very mushy compared to the newer cars now. Dave

oldzy

I hope I like the new stuff. I got so many Hotchkis parts, that what I have now is the complete TVS kit.

z11375ss

I have front and back Hotchkis anti sway bars. Boxed lower control arms as well. The car handles so much better now. I am very happy with just the bars. Better wear your seat belt. You'll be sliding around quite a bit after the install. LOL

joe_padavano

The A-body cars could have used one of several different size front bars. Measure it. If you don't have a caliper, then use an adjustable wrench. Tighten the wrench to fit the bar, then measure the space between the jaws.